DULUTH-SUPERIOR AREA COMMUNITY

In 2024, as part of ongoing strategic planning efforts, boreal waters made significant improvements to grantmaking designed to better align resources with the needs of the communities served. This involved restructuring committees to include community members with lived experience and expertise in the areas where funds are directed (e.g., childhood poverty, missing a sense of belonging, etc.). The focus areas of opportunity, resilience, belonging and transformation were better defined through community feedback and research to ensure efforts are impactful and sustainable. The second request for proposals was also made more accessible by creating a letter of intent process, which allowed for us to get back to organizations faster. These changes are part of the broader strategy to enhance the effectiveness and reach of boreal water's grantmaking, ensuring that not only needs are met, but efforts focus on meaningful, lasting improvements.boreal waters continued to be responsive to community needs and opportunities. Leadership initiatives were developed with collaborating organizations, such as nonprofits at noon, be on board, and other programs to help nonprofits build skills and provide professional development. Additional community leadership sought to fill a gap for local nonprofits in recruiting volunteers to serve as trustees. Community impact programming is in addition to boreal waters on-going grant and scholarship activity.